The North East Local Health Integration Network (NE LHIN) has announced that they will provide $170,000 to fund a Regional Mental Health and Addiction Warm Line. The Regional Warm Line will provide an option for mental health and addiction consumers to call for support prior to a crisis, resulting in fewer calls and visits to the Emergency Department of local hospitals.
The Regional Warm line will use the model that has been established in Sudbury since 2000. The enhanced warm line will be implemented and coordinated through NISA/Northern initiative for Social Action and the Canadian Mental Health Association, Sudbury/Manitoulin Branch, and will work in partnership with consumer/survivor initiatives (CSIs) within northeastern Ontario and with the CSI network organization Lived Experience and Recovery Network (LERN) formerly called North East Ontario Consumer Survivor Network (NEON).
The Regional Warm Line will rotate operations throughout the region, centered in five districts (Sudbury, Sault St. Marie, Timmins, North Bay and Parry Sound). The phone lines will operate 365 days a year, from 6 p.m. to midnight each night. Calls will be answered by trained individuals who have lived experience.
For more information read www.nelhin.on.ca.